Living in Bath

Bath is an exquisite Georgian city located in the South-West of England. The city is full of fine architectural treasures and a rich diversity of museums, galleries, gardens and as well as sporting attractions. It is a busy university town with a thriving and vibrant community, which has much to offer to students both socially and academically. There is a year-round variety of festivals, theatre and music events. There are plenty of sporting and cultural activities available locally to balance the pressures of study.

Named as one of the safest cities in the UK, Bath is an ideal place to study as it’s small enough to navigate easily, but bustling with activity to keep students occupied outside of college.

Shopping

There is a great selection of shops in Bath including all the major high street shops in Southgate, as well as many charming, independent boutiques as you make your way through town up to Bath’s oldest shopping area on Milsom Street. Antiques and retro shops can be found in the artisan quarter on trendy Walcot Street.

Restaurants

New restaurants are opening regularly in Bath, giving students a great choice of places to shop and eat.

Things to Do:

Cinema – see the big blockbusters at the Odeon in Bath, or the smaller cult films at The Little Theatre Cinema, a three-screen art house cinema in a small square near the centre of Bath. We also have a new boutique cinema in Bath where you can watch films on luxurious sofas with a fully licensed cafe-bar and lounge, visit Tivoli!

Theatre – The Theatre Royal in Bath is a beautiful example of historical Georgian theatre architecture which offers a year-round programme of top-quality drama, including many West End productions, opera, comedy, dance and frequent Sunday concerts.

Fitness & Sport – for those who want to keep fit or fancy a bit of fun, Bath’s newly renovated leisure centre has quality fitness facilities and leisure activities to help our students keep healthy and active. The centre has recently undergone a major £1m refurbishment of the Gym in Bath which now holds a 120-station Gym, 25m six lane Swimming Pool, fun Leisure Pool with flumes and slides, a highly successful Better Swim School, take part in lots of team sports in 4 court sports hall and an extensive Fitness Class programme with classes like Zumba, Pilates and Circuits. (Students receive a special discount).

There is also a gym at the University of Bath open to students which will be doubling in size in Winter 2018-19 when a new £3.5m extension opens, offering a dedicated spin studio and other space and equipment across three floors.

Museums – There are many fascinating museums to visit in Bath:

Holburn Museum – The city’s first public art gallery, the Grade I listed building, is home to fine and decorative arts built around the collection of Sir William Holburne. Fashion Museum – Housed in the magnificent Assembly Rooms, the Fashion Museum Bath holds a world-class collection of contemporary and historic dress. You’ll see everything from historic Georgian gowns to cutting-edge fashion from leading designers.

Victoria Art Gallery – The Victoria Art Gallery is a public art museum which opened in 1900 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. It is a Grade II* listed building and houses over 1500 objects of art including a collection of oil paintings from British artists dating from 1700 onwards.

No. 1 Royal Crescent – No.1 Royal Crescent is a magnificently restored Georgian town house in Bath’s world-famous Royal Crescent. The rooms feature historic furniture, pictures and objects that reveal what life was like for Bath’s fashionable residents

Festivals:

Bath hosts many festivals including Literature, Digital, Comedy, Music and Film for every taste and interest. For all the dates and details go to https://bathfestivals.org.uk/.

Student Favorites

Thermae Bath Spa– a beautiful spa with natural mineral waters and an open-air rooftop pool, a great way for students to relax and unwind.

Beyond Bath

Bristol – just 15 minutes away by train, students can discover the second largest city in the south west of England. With the historic harbourside, Clifton Suspension Bridge, an interactive Science Centre (@Bristol), and many other attractions, it’s a great day out for students.
Clifton Suspension Bridge

Salisbury Cathedral

Lacock – this preserved village takes you back in time with its picturesque streets and historic cottages. It is home to beautiful Lacock Abbey and is the site of much filming such as Harry Potter and many other historical dramas.

Salisbury – this historic city is home to the Magna Carta which lives in the Salisbury Cathedral

By the sea – students can escape the city and be on the beach in under 3 hours. Coastal towns such as Bournemouth and Clevedon are fantastic places to enjoy a bit of surfing, water sports, or coastal walks and most are reachable by bus or train.

Bournemouth Beach

Travel

Bath is located only one and half hours from London by train and is well served by road and rail networks. The public bus system is easy to navigate, though the city is easily walkable. More details about travel can be found here.

To find out more about shopping, dining, and the latest events in Bath we recommend visiting the Visit Bath website.